Weston RNLI volunteers have a history of working with the Avon Fire & Rescue Service. Last night they used this relationship to develop their own skills in fire fighting

It is important that all emergency services work together as they do not know when cooperation will be vital in their role of saving lives. Weston RNLI is always working to further this cooperation and sharing of knowledge.

For example on July 12th they are holding the annual RNLI Emergency Services Day on the Beach Lawns, starting at 1100. At this event some 40 emergency services will be there to display what they do and show safety demonstrations to the public. Entry is free.

The RNLI crew recently had an exercise with Avon Fire and Rescue to explore how both organisations would cope with a plane crash in Weston bay. (Weston Bay is on the flight path of both Bristol and Cardiff airports.) This exercise involved the RNLI practising rescuing survivors from a dummy crashed plane and then handing them over to the Fire and Rescue Service Hovercraft which took them to the beach.

Last night this cooperation went further with the RNLI volunteers going up to the Fire station at Brislington. Here they had lectures on how to deal with fires and had demonstrations on how to use the different types of fire extinguishers. During the exercise the fire crew where called out to an emergency but were able to return and continue hosting the RNLI.

Charlotte Conroy, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Weston RNLI Station said; ‘This was extremely useful training. We handle petrol and oils, our boat engines have to function in all sorts of conditions and we have to be able to deal with any fires they may develop. Also it is not uncommon for us to be called out to a boat on fire. This experience will help us assist such casualties safely and continue our role of saving lives at sea.’